Attach importance to the appropriate evaluation and follow-up of thyroid nodules

The incidence of thyroid nodules is high, and thyroid nodule is the most common disease during the thyroid surgical practice. Appropriate evaluation and follow-up of thyroid nodules are of critical importance for improving the prognosis, saving medical cost and optimizing the distribution of the medical resources. Evaluation and follow-up of thyroid nodules involve clinical assessment, laboratory studies, imaging studies and fine needle aspiration (FNA). Attention should be put on a family history with thyroid carcinoma, a history of neck radiation and symptoms of compression caused by nodules during the clinical assessment. TSH is the initial and the most important laboratory study. Thyroid ultrasound is the single most valuable imaging test to evaluate and follow up the thyroid nodules. FNA is the gold standard for the diagnosis of thyroid nodules, playing a key role in differentiating the benign and malignant nodules and determining the treatment strategy. Standardized evaluation and follow-up of thyroid nodules will help to improve the diagnosis and treatment for patients with thyroid nodules.